Foley’s finances continue to receive high marks, with the city’s annual audit finding municipal finances in strong condition.
The Foley City Council recently received the annual audit report conducted by the financial firm Warren Averett. Chris Kiley, senior audit manager with the firm, told council members the city received the most positive opinion possible following the review.
“We issued a clean, unmodified opinion that your financial statements present fairly in all material respects,” Kiley said. “That is the highest level of assurance we’re allowed to provide.”
Kiley also praised the work of Finance Director/Treasurer Miranda Bell and the city’s finance staff for their assistance during the audit and their management of the city’s finances.
“It’s been a great experience working with Miranda and her staff,” Kiley said. “They did a great job getting everything to us in a timely manner and providing all the audit support we needed. It made the process run very efficiently. We really appreciate her and her team for all their work during the audit.”
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the city’s financial management has also earned several national awards recognizing the work of Bell and the finance staff.
“Our finance team continues to win awards every year,” Hellmich said. “A big part of that is transparency. We account for every dollar, and we make that information available to the public, including posting it on the city’s website.”
Foley recently received three national financial awards from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for the sixth consecutive year. The GFOA presented the city with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting.
Only five cities in Alabama received all three honors this year, a distinction known as the “Triple Crown.”
Hellmich said earning the recognition year after year is a significant accomplishment for a city the size of Foley.
“What Miranda and her team have done is incredible and deserves congratulations,” Hellmich said. “It might not seem like as big of a deal when you keep getting it, but this is really outstanding.”